From Mumbai to Kochi: How Indian cities are tackling stray dog menace
Cracking down on the stray dog menace, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi government, civic bodies and authorities of Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad to relocate them from the streets and keep them confined to shelter homes.
A landmark decision by the Supreme Court on Monday directed the government and civic authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove all stray dogs from the streets and keep them confined to shelter homes. (Photo: X)
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In 2025, Mumbai's stray dog population is estimated at 90,700, an increase of 4,400 since 2014. The city manages the population through a sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination program, conducted in partnership with non-governmental organizations. (Photo: X)
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In Kolkata, a 2024 standard operating procedure dictates that stray dogs can only be fed in designated zones, twice a day: before 9 am and after 9 pm. Police are tasked with enforcing these rules, including making arrests in cases of dog poisoning. (Photo: X)
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Lucknow's animal control helpline receives roughly one call every two hours regarding dog-related incidents. In the past five years, the city has recorded approximately 10,000 bite cases involving pet dogs alone. (Photo: X)
Jaipur: Sterilises around 30 dogs a day. In 2023, Chandigarh reported 10,621 dog bite incidents. The city offers Rs 10,000 compensation for treatment and Rs 20,000 for flesh loss due to dog bites. (Photo: X)
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Additionally, Chandigarh imposes fines for feeding banned dog breeds (Rs 5,000) and for failing to leash, chip, and register dogs (Rs 20,000). The latter is linked to property tax and water bill records. (Photo: X/@AnObserversView)
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Kochi runs an Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre focusing on the welfare and control of its stray dog population. The city aims to sterilise 2,000 dogs a month, treating 4,000–5,000 animals annually, with 90% of its budget coming from NGOs. (Photo: X)
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Its shelter houses 100 dogs at a time, with about 35,000 sterilised so far, and has begun hiring more trainers and handlers. (Photo: X/@talk2anuradha)
